Oceanside CA— The Honor Group in association with Time Warner Cable Sportsnet announced that Oceanside High School will play host to the 3rd Annual 2015 Honor Bowl high school football showcase to benefit military veterans. The Honor Bowl will feature eight elite high school varsity football programs from around southern California and the State of Washington. The Oceanside Honor Bowl will feature one current state champion three regional champions and four past state champions.
The showcase will include a special Friday night honor tribute to former Oceanside High School football player, legend and recent 2015 NFL Hall of Fame inductee, Junior Seau, whose family will be in attendance. Also, a special salute to Scott McEwen the co-author of the New York Times bestselling book and mega movie, American Sniper.
The football schedule is as follows:
Friday, September 4th
- 5:00pm Colony Titans vs. Bishop Alemany Warriors
- 8:00pm Oceanside Pirates vs. Eastside Catholic Crusaders
Saturday, September 5th
- 4:00pm Cathedral Catholic Dons vs. Oaks Christian Lions
- 7:30pm Corona Centennial Huskies vs Serra Gardena Cavaliers
The Honor Bowl will feature: Military Expo, Skydiving Performances by former Navy Seals, Special Military Guests and Tributes, Food Concessions, Hollywood Celebrities, Former Pro NFL Athletes, two large LED video screens piped into the television broadcast, Concert Sound and much more.
Event Organizer, Mark Soto, a former high school football coach and whose two boys served in our nation’s military said, “We love the San Diego and Oceanside community and are excited to bring this event back for the third year in a row to this proud and patriotic region. The Honor Bowl has become one of the best high school football showcases in the nation. Nobody wants to lose The Honor Bowl!”
All eight teams competing in this year’s event are a few of the best teams in California including one of the top teams from the state of Washington. All of them are respectfully ranked in the top of the state of California and Washington preseason football polls. The quality of football, coaching and school spirit will be astounding.
With all of the activities at the two-day event that is being planned, students and coaches understand that participating in The Honor Bowl is more than a win or a loss; it is a time to reflect on what our military has done and continues to do for the freedom America’s armed forces provide us.
The football match-ups are nothing less than stellar. Friday night, September 4th’s two match ups include four champion teams that have never played against each before. The Colony Titans will return with prolific QB Josh Thompson who passed for 2,263 yards and the Alemany Warriors are ready with head coach Dean Herrington returning an experienced and battle worthy load of players. Following this game is another first with two teams that both finished in their 2014 state final.
The Pirates introduce new head coach, David Rodriguez and a team that is ready to continue the pride and history behind Oceanside Pirate football. Eastside Catholic travels to southern California fresh off winning the Washington 3A crown after snapping their arch rival, Bellevue, WA, consecutive 151 game winning streak.
All the teams on this days schedule will begin the day with a special tour of The US Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Battalion – West learning about how the US Marines rehabilitate from injury to recovery. Then the teams all come together again later that afternoon in a showcase of gridiron brotherly sports excellence. When you add the honoring and tribute of Junior Seau and salute to American Sniper, it will be an amazing Friday night to be in Oceanside.
On Saturday, September 5th, The Honor Bowl majesty continues with a 4:00pm gridiron battle between two teams that slugged it out last year at the 2014 Honor Bowl. This game features San Diego Section proud Cathedral Catholic Don’s verses the Ventura County Oaks Christian Lions. After the 2014 Honor Bowl both of these teams’ coaches asked for a chance to re-rack and play each other again. Although the Dons came off the field on the right side of the scoreboard, these two teams both felt they left unfinished business on the football field and asked for a re-match. The Honor Bowl gave it to them and we will see who will win private vs private bragging rights this year. Look for new head coach at the Oaks Christian Lions, Jim Benkert to come roaring with a team ready to attack and look for the Cathedral Catholic Dons ready to do battle again.
Immediately following this game is the epic finale of the 2015 Honor Bowl and features what many in the media are calling one of the best national high school football matchups of the week. Both Centennial and Serra return for the third year in a row to The Honor Bowl and come loaded with more than 20 D1 bound prospected players on each side of the ball. This game is a futuristic college gridiron preview. Both these schools love the educational message behind The Honor Bowl and have committed to return now and into the future.
Time Warner Cable Sportsnet has agreed to regionally televise the full schedule of Honor Bowl games to their viewing audience throughout Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Diego, Seattle (ROOTS) and Hawaii. The games can also be viewed nationally on TWC Direct T/V subscriber station 691.
The Honor Bowl football showcase simply lives up to its message of combining prep sports, education, patriotism and honor, all while colliding in two special days of love for our nation’s military veterans. To learn more please visit The Honor Group’s website at www.thehonorgroup.org
About The Honor Group, Inc.
The Honor Group is a nonprofit whose sole purpose is to educate students, coaches and communities about the needs of our military veterans. Providing service and education through athletic events, school assembly’s and an upcoming live stream telecast called, Honor Sessions. The 2015 Honor Bowl™, managed and produced by The Honor Group will be held in Northern and Southern California with teams participating from two western states. Funds raised by the nonprofit and through their events help equip wounded military veterans with much needed items and resources to assist them in returning to civilian life. The Honor Group relies on partners and volunteers who share the passion to make a difference.